Railway axle box dust and oil guard



Sept. 7, 1954 .1.J. HENNEssY RAILWAY AxLE Box nus'r AND oIL GUARD 2 Sheqts-Sheet l Filed Feb. 15, 1950 Sept. ,7, 1954 J. J. HENNEssY RAILWAY AXLE BOX DUST AND OIL GUARD Filed Feb. 15, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24 FIG, e. e

Patented Sept. 7, 1954 RAILWAY AXLE BOX DUST AND OIL GUARD James J. Hennessy, Chambersburg, Pa., assignor to Hennessy Lubricator Company, Inc., Chambersburg, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application February 15, 1950, Serial No. 144,227

4 Claims. (Cl. 286-6) The invention relates to an oil and dust guard adapted to be applied to the usual dust guard pocket at the inner end of a journal box of the type which has its inner end apertured to permit the endwise insertion of the axle and journal. The invention consists in a multiple layer structure including outside layers adapted to engage the upright walls of the pocket in the journal box and an inner layer slidably received between the outer layers and includingr a iiexible part in contact with the journal and yielding to accommodate shifting of the journal longitudinally of the box and, to a limited extent, transversely or vertically of the box. Also, the inner layer is free to follow the journal in all directions transversely of the journal axis relative to the outer layers. At least one of the outer layers is compressible to form a tight joint against the inner wall of the dust guard pocket.

This application is a continuation-in-part of an application nled July 113, 1949, Serial No. 104,541 now abandoned in view of the present application, disclosing the general arrangement and one form of the invention.

The main object of the invention is to effectively seal the interior of the box from the admission of dust from the exterior of the box and from the loss of oil from the interior of the box, irrespective of the play of the journal in the box in directions longitudinal or transverse of the journal axis. Another object is to provide such a seal by a simple relatively inexpensive guard consisting of few parts and being readily insertable .and removable from the dust guard pocket as a unit and without the assembly or disassembly of any of its parts.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical view through the rear wall of an axle journal box having a pocket of familiar form in which applicants guard is inserted and is shown in section on the line I-I of Figure 5, a portion of the axle journal being shown.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the edge of the guard.

Figure 3 is a view looking from left to right of the inner or left hand member of the guard.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the intermediate member of the guard.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the outer or right hand member of the guard.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through a dust and oil guard embodying another form of the invention.

Figure 7 is a view of the guard shown in Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrow B with parts broken away tomore clearly illustrate the structure.

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a view of an intermediate felt strip in the position assumed when not applied to a journal.

Figure 1 shows a portion of the top wall l, bottom wall 2 .and a side wall 3 of an axle box receiving the axle 4, the end portion of which forms a journal 5. The rear end of the box is provided with the usual dust guard pocket 6 having an outer wall l', an inner wall 8, and a bottom wall 9. The upper end of the pocket is open.

The guard includes a rear or outer plate-like member I B, a iront or inner plate-like member I2 and an intermediate plate-like member I I. Each of these members has a straight top edge and parallel straight side edges from the top edge to a point .abreast of the dust guard axis A and the lower portion of each member is an .approximate semi-circle with the axis A as the center. The top and side portions of each plate Ill and I2 are flanged towards each other, the iianges I3 of member I2 being inserted between the iianges I4 of member I 8. Members IIJ and I2 form a housing for member II. Obviously the edges of anges I3 limit the movement of the members toward each other. Lugs I5 on flanges Ill are bent around the left hand face of plate I2 and limit the movement of the plates away from each other.

A sheet of felt-like material I5 is applied to the left hand face of member I2 and is provided with an aperture substantially larger than the diameter of the journal for which the dust guard is designed. The function of sheet I6 is to engage the pocket inner wall 8 and prevent the admission of dust and the loss of oil between the pocket inner Wall and the inner member of the guard. To this end the guard outer member I0 is provided with iiat springs Il which engage the pocket rear wall I and thrust the guard to the left.

Intermediate member II includes a rigid body of plywood with a journal receiving opening substantially larger in diameter than the journal. The top of the body may be split at S and the split parts IIa and IIb are pulled together by a tension spring I8 and therefore are capable of a slight movement away from each other to accommodate better fitting for variation in the journal diameter. A sheet of leather-like material IS is applied to the right hand face of the plywood and is provided with an aperture substantially smaller in diameter than the portion of the journal to which the guard is applied. The leather may be splitalso at S. As the box with the guard in place is moved axially of the journal into the position shown in Figure 1, the inner periphery |90. of the aperture in leather I9 is distorted with its edge towards the interior of the box as indicated and forms an elective seal against the passage of dust and oil around the journal.

The width and height of member is substantially less than the distance between the opposing anges |3 of member I2 and the thickness of member |I and the spacing of members I and |2 are such that member II may move in any direction transversely of axis A and relative to members IIJ and l2 without destroying the seal between sheet I9 and the journal and without placing suflicient pressure on the leather surrounding the journal to detract from the circular seal formed by it and cause excessive wear. It is important that the intermediate member of the guard be free to move with the journal,

relative to the box and outer members, in any the guard is readily removed by a wire or other tool with a hook-like end which may be inserted in openings in the top flanges of the metal plates. The guard unit is maintained in assembly by lugs I5 and the end of the lower lug may be bent back if it is necessary to disassemble the parts for repair or replacement.

Figures 6-9 illustrate another form of the invention in which the housing forming plates 2| and 22 and the felt sheet 23 correspond to the similar parts previously described and are similarly limited in their movement away from each other by lugs 24 on plate 2| bent around behind plate 22, but the flanges 22a on plate 22 are shorter than in the form previously described and they are not utilized as spacers to limit the movement of the plates towards each other.

Between plates 2| and 22 is a member 25, preferably consisting of a steel sheet substantially thinner than the intermediate member II previously described. A series of at springs 2G are secured to one side of member 25 and bear against the inner face of plate 22 and thrust member 25 to the right towards plate 2|. Springs 26 are spaced apart angularly of the guard axis.

An annular sheet 21 of felt-like material is positioned between the other side of member 25 and the opposing face of plate 2 I and has an inner periphery corresponding to the aperture through plates 2 I, 22 and member 25. The ends of sheet 21 are shiplapped, as indicated at 28, to permit its inner periphery to be contracted and expanded while maintaining continuousl contact with the journal. An elongated coil spring 29 connects the spaced ends of a wire 32 which encircles sheet 21 and is seated in a peripheral groove in the sheet and tends to contract the sheet.

Spacers 30, between plate 2| and member 25, limit the approach of this plate and member towards each other to such an extent that they would bind sheet 21 and interfere with the sliding of the latter with the journal transversely of the guard axis. Preferably, sheet 21 is apertured, as indicated at 3|, to receive spacers 30 which may slide with sheet 21 over plate 2| to accommodate the shifting of the journal across the guard axis.

While the spacers are shown as slidable on member 25, being retained in spaced relation angularly of the guard aperture by the openings in sheet 21, these spacers may be secured to plate 25, thus maintaining their assembly with member 25 as the other parts of the guard are disassembled. With such an arrangement, the openings in sheet 21 would be large enough to afford the necessary clearance.

The arrangement just described possesses the advantages of the arrangement shown in Figures 1-5 and makes it possible to maintain a more effective seal between the journal and the plate which is pressed towards the inner wall of the box. Metal intermediate member 25 and the stii felt 21 outlast the plywood sheet and flexible leather sheet I9. Spacers 3|), between member 25 and plate 2|, may be positioned angularly and radially of the guard axis to best relieve felt sheet 21 of pressure, whereas spacing anges I3 of the earlier described form must be at the edges of plates I2.

It will be understood that the details of the construction may be further modied without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of such modifications as come within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. In a railway axle box dust and oil guard, a housing comprising front and rear plates extending transversely of the guard axis, an intermediate member between said plates, spring means on one side of said member engaging one of said plates and thrusting said member and plate apart, a sheet of annular felt-like material on the other side of said member, spacers on the same side of said member as said sheet and extending from the face thereof through said sheet at least as far as the thickness of said sheet and positioned above and below the center of said sheet to prevent said sheet being gripped between said member and the opposing plate, said sheet and spacers being freely slidable between said member and latter-mentioned plate, there being an aperture through said plates, member and sheet for receiving a journal to which the guard is applied, the aperture through said plates and member substantially exceeding in diameter the diameter of the journal to which the guard is to be applied and means for contracting said sheet about its aperture.

2. In a railway axle box dust and oil guard, a housing having spaced upright metal plates extending transversely of the guard axis and apertured to freely receive a journal to which the guard is to be applied, said plates being flanged towards each other along their edges, the anges of one plate being received between the flanges of the other plate, lugs on one plate extending around the edge and over the outer face of the other plate and holding the plates assembled, an intermediate member comprising a rigid metal sheet, having an aperture substantially larger in diameter than the diameter of the journal to which the guard is to be applied, spacers on one side of said intermediate member holding it spaced from the corresponding plate, and an arl-1 nuius of felt-like material at the same side of said intermediate member of no greater thickness than the depth of said spacers and having an aperture normally smaller in diameter than the journal to which the guard is to be applied but enlargeable to receive the journal, and spring means thrusting said intermediate member towards the plate opposite said spacers.

3. In a railway axle journal dust guard, a pair of substantially rigid plates provided with apertures for freely receiving the axle to which the dust guard is applied, said plates being movable to and from each other, a rigid member paralleling and positioned between said plates and having a similar journal receiving aperture, springs between one side of said member and one of said plates, spacers between the other side of said member and the other of said plates and movable with said member and positioned near 'the upper, lower, and side edges of said plates, and a sheet of felt-like material between the latter-mentioned side of said member and the latter-mentioned plate, and having recesses to receive said spacers, and means limiting the movement of said plates away from each other.

4. In a railway axle journal dust guard, a pair of substantially rigid plates provided with apertures for freely receiving the axle, said plates being movable to and from each other, a rigid member paralleling and positioned between said plates and having a journal receiving aperture, springs between one side of said member and one of said plates and spaced angularly about the aperture in said member and plate, spacers between the other side of said member and the other of said plates and opposite to each of said springs, and a sheet of felt-like material between the same side of said member as said spacers and the corresponding plate and apertured to receive said spacers, said sheet and spacers being slidable on said member to permit the sheet to follow the journal to which the device is applied in its movement relative to said plates, and means limiting the movement of said housing plates away from each other.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 370,449 Cloud Sept. 27, 1887 542,852 Harris et al July 16, 1895 554,079 McCord Feb. 4, 1896 1,178,133 Christiansen Apr. 4, 1916 2,103,555 Rowe Dec. 28, 1937 2,122,343 Grece June 28, 1938 2,458,457 Wright Jan. 4, 1949 2,532,449 Hennessy Dec. 5, 1950 

